Strictly viewers miss last dance after Gaelic show cuts in

Strictly Come Dancing had an unusual climax for Scottish viewers last night,
after they missed most of the last dance when the BBC accidentally
interrupted it with a Gaelic-language current affairs show.

Natalie Lowe and Michael Vaughan were the last pair up on the Wembley Live Show of Strictly Come DancingPhoto: BBC

Rather than watching Michael Vaughan, the former England cricket captain, and his partner Natalie Lowe perform an “American Smooth”, viewers north of the border were instead treated to the latest episode of Eorpa.

The interruption lasted for two-and-a-half minutes and Vaughan had almost finished his dance by the time the correct programme returned.

The BBC later apologised for the error, which it blamed on a “technical transmission error”.

The Eorpa programme – which is broadcast in Scottish Gaelic with English subtitles – was being broadcast on BBC Alba and BBC Two – but inadvertently appeared on BBC One instead of Strictly as well. The programme, whose title means “Europe” in Gaelic reports on political, social and cultural issues from across the Continent.

The episode of Strictly was a special edition of the show being broadcast live from Wembley Arena, in London.